Pema Chodron tells a story about a monk, out walking, who is
charged by a pack of ferocious, wild dogs...and instead of trying
to run away, he turns to face the pack and starts charging them
back. They're so surprised that they turn around, tails between
their legs. Even though it's not always attainable, I appreciate
those who can, when the moment calls for it, take this attitude
toward life's challenges.

Kindness, good humor, sensitivity and grounding are some keywords.
I admit to being serious without being somber: smiling and making
funny faces is so important....

I am interested in finding someone to have a serious relationship
with, a partnership. While I expect that along the way I might have
shorter and lighter involvements, that's my overarching goal in
being here.

I am tutoring English and working part-time on my MFA in creative
nonfiction, along the way to teaching college, I hope. I have a
regular meditation practice, one with feet
firmly on earth, vis a vis the spiritual school of the Diamond Approach.
I believe in ongoing self-development and spend a fair amount of
time tending the inner garden (like Candide suggested). And playing
and listening to music, doing and appreciating art in all its
colorful forms, and getting outdoors--yes, please!

Friends say I'm good at navigating meaningful/deep conversations.
I've published a few pieces of writing. I'm very loyal to friends,
family, and community. And I am really good at Scrabble--but would
usually prefer to talk about our dreams (both the nighttime and
waking life variety) and how to achieve them.

though I don't watch much at all these days, I've enjoyed Six Feet
Under and Arrested Development. Fawlty Towers is a perennial
favorite--John Cleese is a force of nature.

music:

In the Western classical world, say Bach and Brahms and Beethoven;
and in the modern arena, Talking Heads, Built to Spill, Dar
Williams, Patty Griffin, Belle & Sebastian, MGMT, Leonard
Cohen, The Beatles, Manu Chao, Muse, The Knife, Bastille, The
Shins... and those amazing Tibetan monks--the ones with the
super-deep voices!

food:

Butternut squash in any of its resplendent forms. Lox. Pesto.
Salads of many ingredients. Chocolate. (Another thing I'm good at:
buying chocolate!) Thai and Indian food in particular, but really I
haven't met a cuisine I didn't like... except maybe Venetian--it's
crazy what they will fry in Venice.

* my friends, who, like mustard, make the whole sandwich-of-life
worthwhile
* good literature
* work or service to be involved in
* continuing education (both broadly and narrowly defined)
* meditation and spiritual work
* laughter

you feel like it. I'm interested in supporting, and being supported
by, the real-life Presence of those I am in relationship with. New
agey perhaps, but true: Showing up is more important than showing
off; slowing down is often nicer than speeding past; and keeping it
real is the sweetest of all.